Liikanen: Time to reap benefits of modern road safety technology

Date: 26/09/02

By Martin Banks

ERKKI Liikanen, the enterprise and information society commissioner, is urging the car industry to make better use of new technologies to help cut road congestion and make roads safer.

While acknowledging that the combined efforts of the EU, member states and the automobile sector has helped reduce the death toll on Europe's roads over recent years, the Finn says the number of fatalities remains 'unacceptably' high.

Implementing 'conventional' safety measures is not enough; though important, he says the difference they can make has reached its limit.

Instead he is calling for more use of new technologies that are becoming available 'thanks to major investments in Intelligent Transport Systems in Europe over the last ten years'.

'They offer the prospect of, and are already contributing to, a significant reduction in the number of accidents and injuries,' added the commissioner.

Speaking at a major conference in Lyon, attended by experts from the motor industry from across the world, Liikanen cited several examples of the new technologies he has in mind.

One, called adaptive cruise control, uses tiny sensors which will automatically slow a vehicle down if a vehicle in front suddenly brakes.

'In Germany, 15 of all accidents are caused by insufficient distance and in

85 of severe road accidents the driver either did not brake or did not use full deceleration.

'The adaptive cruise control system and emergency braking assistance would be beneficial in these cases,' said Liikanen.

Another innovation involves automatic resistance in the steering wheel if a car is about to change lanes when it is dangerous to do so.

Liikanen added: 'It is now time to reap the industrial, economic and social benefits of these new systems.

'The European car industry should be able to position itself as a global leader and contribute to the reduction of road accidents.

'That is not to say we should not continue with the other safety measures like enforcement and driver education.

'New technologies are not there to replace them, but to complement them.'

The commissioner said it was crucial for the new systems to be widely deployed in the marketplace if the potential benefits are to be realised.

'Unfortunately, in most cases there is still a large gap between technology development and its deployment at a reasonable cost and in sufficient quantity,' he added.

Michele Osterhoudt, of ERTICO, a public-private partnership which supports implementation of intelligent transport systems, said: 'I want to stress we are not suggesting that the control of a vehicle is taken out of the hands of the driver.

'These new technologies would, instead, complement the role of the driver.'

MEP Malcolm Harbour, an expert on the industry who attended the event, said: 'Modern technology has made all modes of transport more comfortable, more accessible and more environmentally friendly. We must now harness information technology to improve safety and cut congestion.'

The three-day congress was organised by ERTICO and the European Commission.

Erkki Liikanen, the enterprise and information society commissioner, is urging the car industry to make better use of new technologies to help cut road congestion and make roads safer.